Primaries prove to be internal struggle for parties
By DOUG JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer
August 30, 2002 12:05 pm
Posted on 08/30/2002 9:38:39 AM PDT by Constitution Day
Primaries prove to be internal struggle for parties
By DOUG JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer
August 30, 2002 12:05 pm
RALEIGH, N.C. -- For most of the past 100 years -- through the birth of aviation, the Depression and two world wars -- Democrats have controlled North Carolina's Legislature.
Since 1900, the GOP has managed to claim a majority only in one chamber -- the House -- and only for four years in the 1990s.
This year, analysts say, newly redrawn House and Senate districts threaten to end the Democratic reign. And after a century of playing the underdogs, Republicans may be out for a little retribution.
"It will be payback time," said Ted Arrington, a political science professor at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. "And if you think that partisanship is bad now, just wait until after the elections."
But before the parties battle for majority control of the General Assembly, they must first face the internal struggle of the Sept. 10 primaries.
Legislators are up against a myriad of issues that make the 2002 primary unlike those of the past:
-- Litigation surrounding the new district maps has already delayed the political calendar four months, pushing the primaries that were scheduled for May back to September, just two months before the general election.
-- Newly drawn lines pit several incumbents, in some cases political allies, against one another.
-- Without a primary runoff this year, candidates are depending even more on strong voter turnout.
On top of it all, most are uncertain how the date of the primary -- the day before the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks -- will affect voting.
"There will be a lot of rhetoric before and after that date about heroism and Americanism and so forth, and I'm sure the political ads will be inundated with it," said Thad Beyle, political science professor at UNC Chapel Hill. "But it's anyone's guess how that may play into the turnout."
Beyle suspects it will be low for other reasons.
"It's the week after Labor Day and it's not on the minds of North Carolinians that they should be voting on something," he said. "There are no executive offices up for election, and in many ways people don't really know who their legislators are. And they are even more confused about who they are voting for by the redistricting issue."
Incumbents usually fare best in primaries. But because of the new maps, six Senate incumbents will be facing off against one another in the primary. For some, it's been an awkward campaign.
Take Democrats Howard Lee and Ellie Kinnaird, now both in the 23rd District that includes Orange and Chatham counties. The two have campaigned together and worked as a team in the Legislature for the past six years. For the past three elections, they have had many of the same supporters.
Now the friends are rivals for the same seat.
"We went from the best deal possible, which is no opposition, to the worst nightmare," Kinnaird said. "This is very awkward and uncomfortable for our supporters."
Other Senate incumbents vying for the same seat are Republicans Bob Shaw and Phil Berger in the new 26th District that includes Rockingham and portions of Guilford counties, and Republicans Virginia Foxx and Ken Moore in the 45th District in the northwest corner of the state.
The new district maps were the subject of a lawsuit filed by legislative Republicans, who challenged districts drawn by Democratic legislative leaders last fall. A lower court judge imposed his own House and Senate districts after the state Supreme Court ruled that maps drawn by lawmakers were unconstitutional.
Several legislators were unhappy with the end result. Democratic Sens. Aaron Plyler, Oscar Harris, Cal Cunningham, Charles Carter, Bob Martin and Ed Warren said they wouldn't seek another term. All six said they were influenced by the configurations of the new districts.
House members who are stepping down include Republicans Lyons Gray, Theresa Esposito, Don Davis and Art Pope, along with Democrats Gene Rogers, Mary Jarrell, Bill Hurley, Zeno Edwards and Dan Barefoot.
Several candidates have come out of the woodwork in the new districts. Former GOP senators R.L. Clark, Don East and Mark McDaniel have filed. And four Republicans now in the House -- Michael Harrington, Fern Shubert, Gregg Thompson and John Weatherly -- filed to run for the Senate.
Democrats now enjoy a 35-15 majority in the Senate. But the new districts are expected to benefit the GOP, with some analyses predicting Republicans will take control of the chamber.
Control of the House is also expected to be up for grabs; Democrats now hold a small 62-58 majority.
Republican Sen. Patrick Ballantine, Senate minority leader, says a change in the political guard would be a welcome breath of fresh air for the state.
"It will mean everything. Out-of-control wasteful spending will end. Three straight years of fiscal emergencies will be resolved. Priorities will be set," he said.
But despite years of political jousting, Ballantine said, Republicans would not be interested in retribution.
"We don't need to be the partisan, iron-fisted mongers that Democrats have been for 130 years," he said. "It is a new day in North Carolina."
Arrington is not so sure.
"It would mean big problems. The Republicans are not used to governing, they are use to throwing rocks. That's what they have done for the last century," he said. "The Democrats, on the other hand, are not used to functioning in two-party situation.
"Neither party is really in a situation to figure out how to govern in the modern world."
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NC Ping!
Please let me know if you want to be added to or removed from this NC ping list.</font<
I checked.
"We went from the best deal possible, which is no opposition, to the worst nightmare," Kinnaird said.
Pardon me while I laugh. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Aaaahhhh....that felt good
Geez, that's a huge turnaround if it comes about.
Thanks,
CD
North Carolina redistricting articles posted on FR
7/16/02 - N.C. primaries at last scheduled for September
7/13/02 - Redistricting Maps approved by Justice Department for North Carolina
7/02/02 - Federal judges deny request to use '01 maps in Legislature (NC redistricting)
6/27/02 - State Redistricting Battle Moves To Washington, D.C.
6/13/02 - NC Senate DemoRATs Retaliate Against Judge, Staff After Redistricting Decision (my title)
6/05/02 - State Supreme Court Denies Motion To Stay Redistricting Decision
6/04/02 - Ashley Stephenson: The man behind (North Carolina) redistricting lawsuit
5/20/02 - (North Carolina) State Lawmakers Being Recalled To Fix Error In Redistricting Maps
5/17/02 - U.S. Supreme Court Denies N.C. Request For Redistricting Stay
4/30/02 - N.C. Supreme Court rejects redistricting (GOP victory)
4/24/02 - A way around proviso (NC Dems seek to amend Constitution to keep redistricting maps)
Oh my....think how HORRIBLE that might be! Republicans in charge.
Check your FRmail, please.
In 1994, with the old districts, that did not favor the GOP, the Republicans still came within an eyelash of taking the Senate (and dumping Basnight!). The final tally was 26 to 24, and that's the way it stood for two years.
The House ended up 68 to 52, Republican, that year.
Soooo....with better districts, it's doable. I personally don't think the Senate is likely this year, but the margin will at least narrow.
The House will most likely go Republican.
Question #1: Do you plan on voting in the Primary election on Sept 10th? Of course being the good conservative citizen and FReeper that I am I said YES!
Question #2: Do you plan on voting for a Repub or Dem candidate? When I answered Republican suddenly the survey ended real quick.
MKM
I totally disagree. As with the US House and Seante under GOP control, the NC republicans will continue to be spineless weasels who just want to be liked and to 'get along'.
Elected republicans wouldn't know how to be partisan if their mothers lives depended on it.
And if by chance the GOP gained control of the state house and senate, they would do nothing to put even the smallest dent in the states $38 BILLION budget.
Yes, i typed $38 BILLION! It is NOT a typo. Sure, the state budget that is reported is around $16 Billion, but that does NOT include FEDERAL dollars that come to the state for highways and other federally funded, in total or partially, projects.
Who here honestly thinks that GOP control in this state would do a damn thing to reduce the budget? Not me.
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